Microsoft urges Congressional bailout

Today Microsoft sent an e-mail to members of Washington state’s congressional delegation urging them to reconsider legislation restoring stability to the U.S. economy.

“In the over 35-year history of Microsoft, we’ve never taken a position on a piece of banking legislation, but unusual times call for unusual steps,” said Brad Smith, general counsel to the world’s largest software maker, in a phone interview with the Seattle P-I shortly after sending the e-mail.

The email reads:

Microsoft strongly urges members of the U.S. House of Representatives to reconsider and to support legislation that will re-instill confidence and stability in the financial markets. This legislation is vitally important to the health and preservation of jobs in all sectors of the economy of Washington State and the nation, and we urge Congress to act swiftly.

Smith said the e-mail was sent to the four members of Washington’s delegation who voted against the proposal: Republicans Doc Hastings, Dave Reichert and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Democrat Jay Inslee. It was also sent to some local reporters and to a “broad group of businesses in the Seattle area,” encouraging those businesses to speak out, said Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos.

Why did Microsoft opine on this issue? Smith wouldn’t say whether it’s because the company, or the software industry, is being disproportionately affected by the nation’s financial problems.

Rather, he said, “Microsoft is like all companies: every sector of the economy is dependent on a healthy financial sector and access to credit.”

Smith said Microsoft hasn’t closely analyzed the proposal voted down by the U.S. House of Representatives today and doesn’t necessarily embrace its details. It just wants something to be done, he said.

“We’re as reliant as anyone else on the financial experts in Congress as to what the right financial details should be, but one thing is clear: we can’t allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good, to the extent that Congress goes home without accomplishing anything,” Smith said.